Drive A Error system halt

[crotchetybob]

Hi guys and gals!  I've spent the better part of the day perusing this site searching for a solution to what seems to be becoming a convoluted problem.

Everything was going fine, gonna do a system restore, press F11, right? Get to the restore page just fine, but the mouse wasnt plugged in, so had to shut down and find my mouse for this disused 3 year old desktop.  Plug the mouse in, suddenly, I get the 1 long 2 short beep notifying me that I have a problem with my GPU or my RAM.  I went through the ram first, swapping each one out in turn, only to get the same error beeps.  I tried one RAM stick at a time, resulting in the same error beeps.  So, it must be my GPU, right?  Well, as it turns out, my GPU is integrated in my motherboard (MS-7548).  So, I figure if I can snag a new graphics card on the cheap, I can not only upgrade my system, but I can avoid having to shell out for a new motherboard.  Now, I dont get the error beeps, but it tries to boot from CD-rom, followed by Drive A (not installed) followed by a system halt error.  If I try to start it up with the new GPU driver disc, I get a "Insert system disc"error.

Now, at no point am I given the option to enter BIOS to remove drive A from the boot order.  Ive held down delete as my system boots, and nothing. Im really quite lost here.  Ive tried re-seating everything, including my CPU.  Ive thoroughly dusted the entire thing.  What do I do next?

[Allan]

I suggest you start by replacing the battery on the motherboard. Then try to enter bios and change the boot device order (note: DELETE may not be the correct key to enter your bios - watch the screen at boot to see which key(s) to depress to enter setup / bios).

[crotchetybob]

Ah, failed to mention I've already replaced the battery.  Good suggestion, though.

[Salmon Trout]

DELETE may not be the correct key to enter your bios

F10 everywhere I've looked.

[crotchetybob]

Before I am given the opportunity to enter BIOS, my screen reads as follows:

Award BootBlock BIOS V1.0
Copyright (c) 2000, Award software, Inc

Bios ROM checksum error

Detecting IDE ATAPI device

Detecting IDE ATAPI device
     Found CDROM, try to boot from it ... FAIL

Detecting floppy drive A media
Drive A error. System Halt.

...followed by a long series of rapid short beeps.  I'm not given the chance to press f1 or f10 or DEL or anything before I go to this screen.  If I remove the new GPU, and try to boot without it, I'm given the GPU error code of 1 long and 2 short beeps, again.  Could it simply be my motherboard is wrecked?

[Geek-9pm]

Bios ROM checksum error

You may be at the end of the rope.
CMOS  checksum can be corrected. Not ROM
Could you please give the model number of the PC or motherboard.

Why don't you have a floppy?

[crotchetybob]

MS-7548 motherboard.  I have an HP Pavilion a6750f PC.

The floppy seems to have disappeared over the course of the last 3 years and 4 moves.

[Allan]

F10 everywhere I've looked.

Depends on the system: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000192.htm

[crotchetybob]

What has me truly perplexed is why I was able to reach the system restore screen not 5 hours ago, but when I realized my mouse wasnt plugged in, I shut down and now I get these resultant errors, starting with the 1 long 2 short, and ending where I stand now.

[crotchetybob]

Also, to reiterate, I am not given the chance to enter BIOS. It goes straight to the aforementioned screen.

[Computer_Commando]

MS-7548 motherboard.  I have an HP Pavilion a6750f PC.

The floppy seems to have disappeared over the course of the last 3 years and 4 moves.

Could be the FDD cable has come loose.

Also, to reiterate, I am not given the chance to enter BIOS. It goes straight to the aforementioned screen.

You have to force it to the BIOS by repeatedly tapping the appropriate key.  Holding the key down does nothing.

[patio]

Because it's intermittent you may have a flakey PSU...if you've changed out the BIOS battery...
However i've gotten new batteries off the shelf dead as a doornail so that may be something to consider...

[Geek-9pm]

Bios ROM checksum error

Is that true? It matters.

[crotchetybob]

I'm uncertain what a biosrom checksum error is, so i cannot confirm the truthiness of this message.  I will try a different battery, as 2 came in the pack.  Tried pulling out the PSU plug and popping it back in, to no avail. 

EDIT-Different battery made no difference.  Googled checksum error, seems the general consensus is replace the motherboard.  Was hoping to avoid this, but if it's all I can do, then it must be done.

EDIT 2-No FDD installed on my machine.  Not sure if a cable for a nonexistent device can become loose?  Not to sound like a sarcastic *censored*, but generally I follow the cables from various devices, being a PC idiot, and don't know where to begin on the motherboard to check for this.

EDIT 3-Any way I can check the validity of my PSU?  It seems to be in working order.  The new GPU fan spins up just fine, all other cooling units are in working condition, and all LEDs and disc drives seem to be operable.

[Geek-9pm]

If fans and drives are running, the PSU is likely OK.

Repairing a failed BIOS ROM is not cost-effective for most computers. The ROM is soldered to the board. Consult the motherboard documentation  to see if it is  a Flash  PROM, not a literal ROM.

There is a procedure for repairing a Flash BIOS on a few motherboards.

[patio]

Best way is to borrow a known good PSU of the same wattage or greater amd swap it in there...you'll know overnite if it's the culprit.

[crotchetybob]

Motherboard documentation can be found http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01635688&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&site=null&key=null&product=3867529#N31 although I dont see where it specifies the type of ROM.  I went ahead and tried to reset the bios password, in what ended as a futile attempt.

EDIT-Although, it does have "One SPI (ROM programming) connector " Is this helpful at all?

[Computer_Commando]

Did you clear the CMOS settings according to the instructions given in the link you provided?

[crotchetybob]

Yes.  Switched pins for 5-10 secs, then switched back. No results.

[Geek-9pm]

The manual says there are two resets. One for CMOS, the other for password.

Also, the HP web site indicates that what they call ROM is, if fact, programmable. There is a method to reprogram the "ROM" which may fix the check sum error and all other issues. The OP could contact HP and they can tell you where the details are found. The OP needs a good working floppy drive to re program the BIOS OM.

EDITS:
Same issue
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware/BIOS-ROM-Checksum-error/td-p/60306
BIOS for MS-7548 motherboard
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&softwareitem=pv-73188-1
I am not sure if that will work. My HP is not the same .
But the link above is for the board  the OP says he has.

[Salmon Trout]

Could you please give the model number of the PC or motherboard.

He already did

my motherboard (MS-7548).

[Geek-9pm]

Sparse information from HP indicates that the
"ROM checksum error"
is not the same as the
CMOS checksum error.

To fix that "ROM checksum error"m one can:
1. Replace the motherboard.
2. Try to boot a floppy with the ROM recovery program
3. Some other repair or  recovery method not well documented.*

I did not find the exact information on the HP site. Other sources say that the "ROM checksum error" waits for the floppy drive. The floppy is to have the recovery program for that BIOS chip.
I had an I Intel motherboard a few years ago with that feature. But I don't know if the OP 'motherboard has that feature. It is not something you often run into.

* There is a gizmo to program the BIOS with no power to the motherboard. Without removing the chip.